Superblue

I believe we once again do not have sufficient numbers for the 8 homegrown player quota in our 25 man squad and will therefore once again be submitting a smaller squad to the Premier League today. If my maths are correct we'll have six homegrown players eligible for the squad this season - Terry Lampard A Cole Turnbull Sturridge Bertrand Therefore my main question was about Sam Hutchinson. Now obviously he announced his retirement approximately a year ago, but I know he has been training since pre season with the reserve team and also played a couple of reserve team matches (and looked commanding and assured at the back I might add). Is this a permanent thing and he believes he can still make a career for himself, or is it just part time as I know he had plans to go into coaching with Chelsea. If it's likely he can continue his career surely he's worth a punt in our 25 man squad when we have spare homegrown capacity. I don't believe even before his injury he would have become a first team regular, but definately had the ability to develop into a solid and reliable squad player at both right and centre back. What do people think?

Rather than play 4-3-3 as standard I have always thought, in particular when playing at home and in Europe, that we should play 4-2-3-1. It's a formation very popular on the continent, and I believe Hiddink was trying to play something similar when he was in charge of us. GK Cech LB A Cole RB Bosingwa/Ivanovic CB David Luiz/Alex CB Terry CM Meireles CM Ramires AM Lampard RW Sturridge LW Mata ST Torres By playing two deeper midfielders you don't necessarily need a sitter, and you can utilise the energy and drive of both Meireles and Ramires running from deep. The formation still doesn't shackle Lampard. Although if Lampard does not pick up his form I would replace him with McEachran or move Mata into the centre and play Malouda out wide. IF we were to continue playing 4-3-3 with a holding midfielder I would love AVB to give David Luiz a go there, just to add some dynamism to that position, and to improve the pressing game that he's trying to bring in.

Happy Birthday, one of our missing links from the last three games. Mata, David Luiz, Meireles and Sturridge will give us a new dimension!

It sounds as if we had brought him he would have been loaned back to Genk anyway for the season. Therefore it doesn't really make much difference if the transfer window is shut or not, we can continue negotiations with them and just come to an agreement to sign him in the next transfer window or in the summer.

Clever from the club also that it's only for now a loan move until January I believe. This gives us the option to take him back if we feel the need when the african players leave. He would certainly be a natural replacement during that period for Kalou, and hopefully if he discovers his form and confidence at Bolton he can come back and push for a first team place here. IMO if McEachran doesn't get serious game time come January we may take Kakuta back and give them McEachran for the second half of the season to develop.

I think we have to consider the players now coming into the side who will all give the team an extra edge and freshness in the areas we lack. Meireles is the most creative central midfielder at the club and has an eye for a pass and a goal. He will add something to our midfield no doubt. Mata gave us an extra cutting edge in the final third against Norwich and will be our creative hub. David Luiz will help to bring the ball out from deep much quicker when he's fit, which has been a problem in the first games. He may even be utilised as a DM, where I think he would do a very good job. Sturridge will give us pace out wide, a youthful enthusiasm and appetite, and also create problems for defenders when cutting in, which can only help Torres from being isolated and doubled up on.

I think people will find if they speak to any respectable Liverpool fan they'll admit they're disappointed to see him go. I have no idea why Dalglish played Adam and Lucas infront of him?!

I put a post on the 'deadline day' forum, people complaining he is just another B2B midfielder I think will be (hopefully) pleasantly proven wrong. He is not a B2B midfielder in the Ramires mould, he is a more creative and technical player but also has a good engine that allows him to get up and down the pitch. That engine is an asset in that he can be found more regularly in higher offensive positions which can only benefit the likes of Torres. The other big plus was that he handed in a transfer request so late on to force the move through showing his desire to join us. Modric never showed the same desire for me, he never pushed it as far as he could to force a move, instead prefering to save face and reluctant to waive any loyalty bonuses. I would much rather someone join who wants to play for this club. Good luck Raul, I think he will turn out to be a very good signing.

Personally I don't think Yossi would have left if we didn't get in Meireles, it's not a coincidence that the Yossi deal was confirmed so late. Although I don't see the point in a 31 year old leaving on loan. When he returns next season we're still stuck with his wages and he'll be a year older. The fact that Meireles handed in a transfer request so late and it still got sorted obviously shows we have been negotiating for him today and so it doesn't strike me as a panic buy, for AVB he was obviously our plan B. Let's just trust him. He is more of a B2B player than Modric, but for anyone who has bothered to watch him for Liverpool and before Porto, he is much more technically gifted than he is being given credit for on this forum and will offer more of a creative spark than what we currently have in our midfield, not to mention a bit of dynamism. Another plus point is that we have kept Sturridge who I have big hopes for this season. I think he will give us something different and the rumour mill seems to believe AVB will throw him in and give him a run of games on the right hand side of a three man attack. Finally something which should be pointed out is Meireles handed in a transfer request. It shows he wanted to come here and battled to the last minute to get a move here. Modric never forced the issue enough with Spurs as he didn't want to lose face or waive his rights to a 'golden goodbye'. I would much rather someone desperate to play for this club thank you. Let's get behind Meireles, the manager and the squad.

Meireles has signed Chelsea TV have confirmed.

Adam Johnson to Stoke?! C'mon Chelsea, another creative player with pace. Are the staff even working today? Gourlay is fucking useless!!!

I understand that the deal can be agreed subject to a medical which can be done after the transfer window. I'm sure David Luiz came for a medical after the window closed because he didn't have enough time to get from Portugal to London. I may be wrong though...

I just wonder if Roman says fuck it again and we make a last minute swoop for Kaka?!

Arsenal have pulled out of deal for Arteta, I know he is 29 but £10m and not extortionate wages would be IMO a good deal. Get a couple of good seasons out of him and then McEachran takes over.

What currently makes up our 25 man squad then? We're not currently over on our foreign quota are we? Surely if Benayoun leaves, we will buy a replacement for the squad, otherwise what is the point?!

Pjanic moved to Roma for 11m; Arteta looks to be going to Arsenal for 10m. Affordable playmakers...wake up Chelsea!!!

I can understand people's stance on Ribery, taking his personal problems out of the picture he has often flattered to deceive when I have watched him. However I have also seen him playing at maximum capacity and what he would provide is more creativity and more pace. For how good a player and signing Mata is, he still isn't the out and out dribbler I feel we sometimes lack to take the full back on out wide and stretch defences. I personally would, like most, prefer Modric, but to be quite frank if Spurs aren't going to sell him, I will take just about any top class creative player at this moment in time!

I would be happy with Pereira. All of the top clubs have a couple of 'utility' players in their squad who have the versatility to play a number of positions and perform a number of roles. I do agree though that he is good enough to become a permanent fixture in the side. I agree with the Ashley Cole comments and have also noticed not just a lost yard of pace but he has also seemed far more reluctant so far to venture forward. I read the other day that he's a heavy smoker...maybe something to do with it?! However I must say despite Bosingwa's goal against Norwich and assist against WBA, he is still too defensively naive for me. Alex took the flak against WBA but in my opinion Bosingwa was hardly any better.